5 Best Places to Hike in Whistler

Is it Safe to Go Hiking During the Pandemic?

Before we tackle the best places for hiking, let's tackle the very basic question : is hiking still safe during the pandemic? 

Hiking is a healthy activity and probably one of the many outdoor activities suitable during the pandemic because you’re actually going to a place where there are little or no people at all, and still have a great experience. According to the American Hiking Society, spending some time outdoors every day, at least 10 minutes,  is an excellent way to take care of your mental and physical health always, especially now.

Like any other sport or activity, hiking can only be safe if you follow hiking safety protocols.  Since it is the pandemic, I believe it’s better if you keep the number of hikers low in your group like maximum of 4 people.

Can I still Hike If I’m Not Vaccinated?

 When outside, the risk of spread is far lower, but not by as much if you’re sitting or standing in place or if you’re moving along at the same pace as someone else and within 6 feet of them.  If you are not fully vaccinated, we recommend that you either stay 6 feet apart or wear a mask (or both) if in a crowded area or spending time with someone outside your household. Even if unvaccinated, if you are going for a hike just with members of your household/pod or alone, then, unless you’re in a crowded area, you don’t need to wear a mask. 

Where is Whistler?

If you’re looking for the best place to go hiking in Canada, Whistler is a good place to go. Whistler is a town north of Vancouver, British Columbia. Aside from hiking, it is also a popular destination for winter sports like snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, and more during the winter season. But during the summer months of June to September, the alpine hiking season is open for hikers from beginners to expert. If you plan on doing hiking or any outdoor sport more often in Whistler, it's also nice to look for real estate for sale in Whistler so you won't have to travel far from home. 

5 Best Places to Hike In Whistler

Now, upon reviewing a lot of hikers’ reviews about hiking places in Whistler, I have came up with the top 5 best places to hike according to hikers’ reviews and experiences online. Here they are:

1.     The Whistler Train Wreck Trail

• Difficulty: Easy
• Dog Friendly? On leash 
• Season: May - November

Location: The Whistler Train Wreck is located in Whistler near Function Junction, the furthest south traffic light in Whistler. View a map of Driving directions to Whistler Train Wreck.

 

This is the most popular hiking place that’s best for hiking beginners and also mountain bikers. Hikers say it has a bit of everything and the trail is easy enough to enjoy by the whole family. The trail leads to a forest going to a place where you would also see some abandoned train wreck which seemed to be popular among the hikers and then eventually leading to a bridge connecting Train Wreck to the Sea to Sky trail, which is part of the Trans Canada Trail.

 

2.     Lost Lake Nature Trail

• Difficulty: Easy
• Dog-Friendly? Yes
• Season: March - October

View a map of Driving directions to Lost Lake Nature Trail.

The scenic Lost Lake near Whistler Village

Another highly recommended hiking place especially if you're a beginner. Lost Lake is a small lake within walking distance of Whistler Village and is a popular attraction with a beach area and surrounding trails for hiking and biking. It's a 30-minute hike going to the Lost lake and then you get to hike around the lake itself.  According to hikers, it's an easy, flat grade walk going to the lake and it also includes a pleasant trail to the woods making it a great hiking place for your family.

 

3. Harmony Lake Trail

• Difficulty: Intermediate 
• Dog friendly? No 
• Season: July-October

How to go there: To reach the Harmony Lake trailhead from Green Lake, drive southeast along BC-99 S to Whistler Village and make a left onto Nancy Green Dr. Turn right after 591ft onto Blackcomb Way, keeping on it for 0.8mi to get to the parking lot on your left.

Harmony Lake Trail is a 2.7 kilometer lightly trafficked loop trail located near Whistler, British Columbia, Canada that features a lake and a beautiful Alpine forest. Hikers say it's a great short hike. Trail is a bit more difficult compared to the first two trails mentioned because there's a couple of hundred meter descend going to the small lake and then climb back up. The climb up is a bit of a challenge for beginners, but the views are breathtaking and worth the effort. The trail is good for all skill levels and is primarily used for hiking and walking.

4. Garibaldi Lake Hike

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Dog Friendly? No
• Season: July - October
• TRAIL NOTICE: A BC Parks Day-Use Pass is required to hike the Garibaldi Lake Trail.

View a map of Driving directions to Garibaldi Lake.

Photo by Naik 

This hike is more challenging than the first 4 in this list. Accessible from the Rubble Creek parking lot just south of Whistler, the hike begins at the wooden steps along the top section of the parking lot. The first 6 km of the trail is a gradual uphill climb through dense forests of Douglas Fir trees. According to hikers, this first 6 km was the challenging part.  At times, the trail can seem like it goes on forever, however keep moving as the reward will be well worth the effort.Some hikers took almost 8 hours to reach the lake inclusive of having mini breaks during the hike. But even though the hike was a bit of a challenge, it's still highly recommended because of the stunning view. 

5. Black Tusk Hike

• Difficulty: Difficult
• Dog Friendly? No
• Season: July - October 

View a map of Driving directions to Black Tusk.

Black Tusk hike

So far, this is one of the most adventurous hikes I've read according to hiker testimonials. It's challenging, but also very rewarding when it comes to nature's beautiful view. Some said they also saw bears and marmots along the hike. The base of the tusk looks scary at first, but once you start your hike you'd realize it's not so bad. Steep sections awaits hikers, but doable. Generally, the path is a steady climb and well-maintained. The entire hike can be done in one day. So if you're feeling like a champ and wanting to do an adventurous hike, then this one is for you.  

Whistler looks like a great place to hike, right? There are also plenty more hiking trails that Whistler can offer, but I can no longer post everything here. Got any comments/suggestions about this post? Please do write them in the comments below.